Keyboard for HCPC - wireless?

[RichardH]

Slowly building up the kit, and am looking at keyboards. Is there a need for a wireless one, so I can then "teach" a remote commands, or am I best just to go for IRMan/Girder (I'm not scared!) and a vanilla wired KB?

I'm not intending to go Pronto - just a programmable remote such as the Marantz 1200, or even just a 6 in one type device. hopefully Girder can do all the clever stuff

Thoughts?

[Kramer]

Originally posted by RichardH
I'm not intending to go Pronto

Why?

Get a Pronto, you won't regret it

[RichardH]

Ooooh, you really are a
Maybe as a nice upgrade later.....

[Richard Harnwell]

Originally posted by RichardH
Ooooh, you really are a
Maybe as a nice upgrade later.....

Go on, go for the pronto now.

Did you know it has a "mouse mode" when you can use the surface as a very effective mouse (like the pads on some laptops).

[RichardH]

Baaaahh! That's JUST what I didn't want to hear..... My aching wallet.....

[Caveat]

Doesnt the Mouse mode require the specialist Philips IR receiver/software which I think is also out of production now?
Ive had a Pronto / IR Man / Girder set-up for a year or so and have never got the mouse mode to work - Id love to know how to.

Whilst Id agree the Pronto is neat, it isnt a total replacement for KB/Mouse and you still have to make quite an investment in Pronto-edit/Girder.

You might also consider waiting a while, with the price of PocketPCs and WiFi dropping its getting almost affordable to use one of these as a control device accross the LAN. I use a Web Pad which provides a much richer interface than the pronto.
Finally I personally prefer "real" buttons and have come to the view that a very clever Girder set up with a very simple remote would be ideal - sadly Im not even a clever scripter

Having said all that I do like my pronto.

I have a Logitech wireless K/B and Mouse which is useful to have around when needed and easy to hide when it isnt needed. Much better would be an integrated wireless K/B and Mouse - Maplin have one for about 35 quid though I havent tried it.

My suggestion would be get the simple remote and start scripting with girder. If you feel the need for a pronto later then indulge. The wireless keyboard / mouse makes for a much tidier environment and is worth the extra.

[RichardH]

Thanks for that input, Caveat - I have noticed ebuyer to a combi keyboard/mouse, too, so may well go that way. One tempting thing re Pronto/Girder is that there's a lot of setups already out there for the kit I will want to control. Sure a lot of tinkering is still in order, though!

[pack man]

I have an infra-red keyboard and a learning remote that came with my denon amp but the denon remote will NOT learn any keys from my keyboard.
But maybe it’s just the denon remote?

BTW I have now ordered a pronto. But it would have been nice if the other remote was up to it.

[RichardH]

As I understand it, some wireless keyboards use RF rather than IR - perhaps that's why your Denon learning remote couldn't do the deed?